Response of potato cv. Kufri Sadabahar to zinc sulfate application under tarai region of Uttarakhand

In order to determine the response of potato cv. Kufri Sadabahar to zinc (Zn) sulfate application, the present investigation was carried out during winter season of 2014–15 and 2015–16. The layout of experimental field was laid in a randomized block design with three replications. The experiment included three levels of Zn sulfate (15, 20 and 25 kg/ha) applied as basal and split doses along with control (without Zn), forming ten different treatments, which were distributed randomly in each block. Pooled data indicated that treatment T₇ (Zn sulfate @ 25 kg/ha as basal) produced maximum dry leaf weight (0.68 and 0.76 g) at 45 and 60 days after planting, respectively, with tuber yield of 36.45 t/ha and harvest index of 74.90%. Results also indicated that benefit:cost ratio (2.18 and 2.28) and net returns (Rs. 192.56 thousand and Rs. 209.40 thousand) from the potato crop during both the years, respectively, were obtained under treatment T₇.